Packing Sucks!

As we're preparing to move, I find myself slightly overwhelmed. There is just so much to do, so many people in and out of the house, it's just one big crazy circus! The hardest part is trying to keep my 3 year old monkey (daughter) from dragging toys all over the house.

We have approximately 3 weeks before we take possession on the house. (We're closing before that but allowing them to stay until they can move into their new home.) Here's what's happening at our house right now... 

Packing! 

We're starting this as early as possible... for several reasons, really. One, I don't want to be overwhelmed the week before we move with everything that we still HAVE to get done. I figure that whatever we aren't using now can be boxed up and stored away. It'll just be one less thing to worry about later. Mostly this consisted of items that were already in storage... like the wedding gifts we still haven't opened, holiday decor and old clothes and baby items. 

Donating!

This really should be a given. As we're going through a lot of the items that we haven't used lately or were already boxed up, we've been passing them on to friends and family that have a need or want for them. If you don't know of anyone, donate it to your local goodwill or other donation centers. There's nothing better than helping others... plus why would you want to move crap you don't want, don't need and will never use again?

Organizing!

Starting this early gives everyone a better opportunity to organize their crap. Yes, it's all crap. We all have our hobbies and our likes and we all support each other. Yet, after years in this house, it amazes me how much stuff we really have. It's also amazing how bits and pieces can end up in different parts of the house.. for example, like winter gloves, scarves, etc that end up in a dresser drawer or the hall closet or the foyer.

So ready to get everything moved and start actually turning our new house into a home!

Fav Workout!

I first found this via Bodyrock.tv site... and adapted it a little for my fitness level.

Since becoming a mom I feel like I either don't have time to workout or when I do have the time, I'm exhausted. I always preferred exercising in the evening, until I had a kid. Honestly, I don't want to spend any part of my evening away from her... so I often try to squeeze in a workout in the early morning or over the lunch hour.

This means I need to get the most out of my workout in the shortest amount of time.

Bodyrock.tv makes this happen. I have several of their workouts bookmarked.. they're worth it.

This is a workout that takes less than 20 minutes and can go anywhere...

Burpees... 1 min
Around the world... 1 min
Side lunge, back lunge & cross lunge... 5x each leg
Bear crawl w/ pushups...1 min.
Repeat 4x

I would totally link back to the original workout... if I could find it. This is one that I had written down and posted on the fridge... a reminder that you can always spare 15 - 20 min a day to become the best person you can every possibly be.

Is Your Home What You Need?

Is Your Home What You Need?

I love our home. I really do.. it's spacious, in a beautiful neighborhood with great neighbors. Everything most people look for in the perfect house.

Both the Hubs and I grew up in a rural setting. He was a farm boy who spent his days on a tractor and fixing fence. I was simply a country girl, with acres of land to roam and explore.

Needless to say, we never once contemplated living anywhere but the middle of nowhere. Life happened and we were forced to vacate our first home and find a new place, fast. The choices were few and far between. I think we were limited to a total of five homes at the time, none of them located outside of city limits.

(Renting wasn't an option.) 

So we purchased our first home. When we first looked at it, I wanted to run away screaming. It was dark and dingy. Covered in wood paneling from the 60s, a green toilet that didn't work, yellow on yellow kitchen cabinets. But... it was cheap and in a great neighborhood. 

We figured with the money we would save on a lower mortgage, we could do more repairs to the home. 

It had previously been a rental too... so the carpets had stains and the walls had plenty of scribbles. But it had potential. A lot of potential. So we bought it. 

I blame being young and stupid crazy. 

Before we moved in we stripped thousands of yards of wallpaper.. painted darn near everything. As we lived there, we pretty much painted everything again. 

That's where I dreamed of starting a family, cried thousands of tears as we struggled to conceive and then spent so many sleepless nights as our dream of a family finally came true. So many of our "firsts" happened in that house that it's hard to think of saying goodbye.

Yet, we've outgrown the space. 

This weekend we spent hours cleaning and boxing and preparing to put our home on the market. It's hard to think about leaving, but we're ready for more... of everything. 

This time, we are taking our time and finding the home that is right for us. We need more space.. both inside and out. My dream is a large, old farmhouse on several acres. I think we've all felt a little cooped up being in town, regardless of how small and rural our town actually is... we need our space and freedom to roam.

Preparing to say goodbye is hard, but the future holds amazing possibilities... we're officially starting the search for our new home!

(Before and After home pics coming soon...)

My Forever Fashion Crush

Kate Spade. 

That girl has style. 

Love the color... love the patterns... love almost everything...

I would probably whore myself out for more of her stuff. 

Especially her bags. 

And the jewels. 

sigh...

Here are some of my favorites from the latest new arrival collection: 

(This would be perfect for the end of summer and move seamlessly into your fall wardrobe!)

(who wouldn't feel like a confident kickass woman in these glasses!!)

(drooling.....)

What are some of your favorite Kate Spade pieces right now?

Choices

They say your teenage years are for dreaming, and your 20s are for learning, and the 30s are for accepting.

(Actually, I don't know what "they" say... but that's what I say.)

The only thing is, I don't know if that's actually true or not.

Only months away from the big 3-0 birthday mark, I have found myself reflecting more and more on where my 20s went.

I always assumed that I would have my life together by now. That I would understand who I was and where I was going. The fact is, I don't have a clue who I am or where I am going.

The older I get, the more I realize no one else really knows what they're doing either.

We're all kinda figuring it out as we go.

The one thing that I have learned, though, is happiness is a choice.

It's not a gift. No person, no thing can bring you true happiness.

Happiness is a mind set and a reflection of who you are on the inside and how you view the world.

You can't always control your circumstances, but you can control how you react to them.

Happiness is a decision.

Life is Short

 

Do What Makes You Happy